I want to start my own, and ideas?

[LittleLauren]

So, I plan on doing these things:
Become a "Master Herbalist."
Learn reiki healing.
I want to open up my own alternative living shop, don't know what I'm going to call it yet.
It might be an in-home business in which I have a huge garden, with my own home grown vegetable crops, and a huge selection of herbs. It will be a coffee shop, along with healing sessions, somewhat like therapy. But It will be energy/reiki healing rather than mental therapy or anything like that.

I need someones help though. I've been looking but haven't found much. Do any of you have your own shops or in-home business. What health regulations, licenses, or certifications did you have to have to do these things.
Would anyone be willing to guide me to a good workshop that has healing classes offering certification? Or anyone who could tell me about the things I would need to start something up for something like this. Do any of you have your own businesses going, and could help me know how to start my own.

What kind of permits do you need if you plan on doing these things:
Massages.
Energy Healing.
Selling coffee and home-grown produce.
Selling herbs and mixes of herbs or herbal pastes to people with illnesses, as an alternative medicine.
Having the typical coffee shop.
Sorry for all the questions it would be great though if someone could guide me.
thedead_sleep@live.com

[Dmitriy]

Hi Lauren!
I gave a tgought yo it myself, and You may click on "my homepage" to see what I came to. I chosse the domain name by good neibourhood. Type "bestlife" in Google and see a "bestlife magasine" about flourishing bisunessmen.
It's just an example, think out Your message to people, what are You going to give them. A Joe Vitalie book "zerolimits" inspired me to think out a logo. He speeks of "clearance" and in Russian clearance=Очищение, starting with "O"; an octangle is a very powerfull feng-shuy simbol. But do not expect it all to come in one day.
It's better bo to visit municipal clinics in Russia: long queues, bureaucracy abutting neglection...In hospitals the situation is much better, but it is easier to cope with flu or cold on your own. So for a decade we tryed different alternative medecines starting from herbalife and so forth. Untill we found the thing that appealed to do something more, than to use it for ourselvs. the product inspired / gave a kick to do something. So for us the idea resulted in recomending the sings we tryed and liked. If You have a land, an opportunity to grow herds - great idea (not quick as well), did not stumbled on anything of the kind.
May be You will groop some additional goods around the central idea.
Good luck

[Farany]

Hey Lauren,

I don't know that much about opening a shop/coffee shop but for most energy healing professions all you need is a certificate that you learned it from a certified master.
I did a Reiki certificate three years ago and am now allowed to teach and use it - there's actually nothing like an official licence, at least not that I know of. You are not allowed to call yourself doctor or the like, though (I'd even be carefull with calling yourself "healer").

If you need help in getting started with all that I know someone who might be able to help you, though ... he's been running his own huge business for years (nothing in the energy healing etc. business) but is also working as a energy/life healing coach and a friend of mine. I could ask him if you got specific questions.

[magenta]

You are talking about very interesting things! I am looking for alternative healers, because I don´t believe that conventional medicine can heal everything! The only trouble is, that one must be very careful choosing such a healer, or a coach, just because they don´t need more than a certficate! So it is allways good to have someone recommended by a friend, so you know you can trust this healer!

[Kristi]

It is a challenge to find someone who will honor not only your body but also your soul. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find who you need at the time. Call them up and talk, ask questions and then trust your gut instincts. It is always helpful to have a couple of people to contact. It is like shopping for other medical professionals like chiropractors. You want the one who is going to best support your process.
Have one treatment from them and you will know whether you want that experience again or not. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and also the Better Business Bureau. They may have people registered with them and also know who has had complaints filed against them.
Always ask lots of questions about length of career, type of credentials, did they attend classes or get certificate on line. Check out their location. Is it clean, comfortable, what is the practitioner's appearance. Do they look like they just woke up or came in from working in the garden?
How does the practitioner respect themselves? Are they on time, clean appearance, act competent, respect your time?
Kristi G.